Lunch/dinner in Destin/Santa Rosa area

Hi, folks. We are returning to Santa Rosa this weekend and are hoping to explore some new restaurants. With our first baby on the way, we%26#39;re trying to stay on a reasonable budget so we will probably eating out most often at lunch. Our favorite ';big night out'; restaurant, the Lake Place, burned down! We%26#39;d like to find a replacement that%26#39;s kind of romantic but not too dressy.

We%26#39;ve already had the Back Porch recommended to us. Are there others? We like barbecue, steak and especially fresh seafood (fried and broiled). We%26#39;re open to exploring what is out there. Please tell us what%26#39;s new and interesting. Thank you in advance for your kindness.

Lunch/dinner in Destin/Santa Rosa area

Hi Peachyswan

Criollas in SRB is probably the best restaurant in that area.

You%26#39;d also enjoy walking around Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin where there are a handfull of good restaurants including BBQ, seafood, steakhouse and cajun.

My favorite in Destin is the Marina Cafe which does offer a 2 for 1 entrees from 5:00-6:00 - which is considerable savings for great cuisine, service and a spectacular harbor sunset view.

The Back Porch is more of a walk up from the beach and grab a beer type of place.

Lunch/dinner in Destin/Santa Rosa area

Try Smiling Fish Cafe%26#39; at Gulf Place. Delicious!

Also, try Cafe Tango. Small restaurant, excellent food!

And of course, you can%26#39;t pass up the Red Bar in Grayton! Electic, great food.

Criollas is very expensive and you will need to dress, however, the food is wonderful.

All of the above are located on 30-A.

Enjoy!

Thank you for the great tips, guys! I%26#39;ve heard good things about Criolla%26#39;s for a while so we may have to try it out. Since we%26#39;re staying at Gulf Place, eating at the Smiling Fish makes sense, too.

I definitely want to try out the Marina Cafe, too. That sounds like it is right up our alley.

Hey, Semco1

Is ';electic'; like a mix of shockingly, good food? lol

Too funny John !

Eclectic.

Peachyswan - If you are playing Golf at the Santa Rosa Golf %26amp; Beach Club, try their restaurant. It is on the ocean and has pretty good food. Not the pro club, but the main club.

Keep in mind that Smiling Fish Cafe is only open for dinner one night a week (Tuesdays if I recall.) We had some service issues in the evening but the food was excellent (and the server more than made up for the problems we had by comping our dessert and wine.) I also recommend Amore (also in Gulf Place - really wonderful hand tossed pizza.) And I liked Old Florida Fish House in Seagrove Beach as well (though I have seen mixed reviews on some other websites.)

Since you stated that lunch was the most common meal you will be eating out, I would not worry about service issues at Smiling Fish. I have never had a service issue since the service is basically bringing your order to the table. At the Smiling Fish at lunch, you walk up and order at the counter, then they deliver your food to the table.

I should mention that the Red Bar is open for both lunch and dinner, Criolla%26#39;s and Cafe Tango are dinner only. Old Florida Fish House is dinner only as well.

There is another place in Grayton you might like to try which is lunch only. D %26amp; K%26#39;s Cafe. It is quite good.

Thanks for the additional info., everyone. Semco, we don%26#39;t golf but can we eat at the club restaurant without having golfed there? I know that seems silly but...

Peachyswan, you can eat lunch for sure at the club, but I am not sure about dinner.

It is a beautiful setting right on the beach. Food is very good.

I don%26#39;t think D%26amp;K%26#39;s is open yet- last I read was October. We will be there next week and will check it out and report back.